Hiraeth is one of those words in the Welsh language that does not really have a suitable word to translate it into in English. But it is such an important word to us that I will, on this day, March 1st, our National Day here in Wales, try to explain a little to you of how it feels to be Welsh and how proud I am to belong to this “Land of my Father’s”.
It is a longing, an essence, a deep, in built need. The Dictionary defines hiraeth as grief or sadness for something (or someone) lost or departed; a longing, yearning, nostalgia, wistfulness, homesickness, earnest desire. There is no real equivalent in English: hiraeth conveys the sense of deepest inexpressive grief or longing.
It is an ache, a feeling, a homesickness for a place that you may never, even have been to in your generation but is built into your genes, your genetic programme – it is the ancestral blood in you, calling to you, beckoning to you, ushering you and urging you to come home.
It is a yearning for the past, an uneasy acceptance of the present and an inexplicable desire to be “home” in the future. Wales is always “home” wherever you live.
Hiraeth can be used to describe this longing for a place, or to be with a person or persons, either absent or departed. Hiraeth is a feeling of broken heartedness. It is bitter and sweet. It is cold and hot. It is that feeling of complete and utter despondency melted with the hope and longing for somewhere better – somewhere more familiar – somewhere where you belong – for home..
It is a pride in our heritage and history. It is a feeling of unity, of bonding, of belonging. We Welsh are an ancient nation, and our history and heritage is embedded in our sub-conciousness in such a way that even if we should want to, we cannot ever forget the fact that we are Welsh. We speak about it, write about it and sing about it. It unifies us. It identifies us. We all wear our Welshness proudly like a national flag. Our accents identify us to each other and when we are away from Wales and we meet up, we are automatically brothers and sisters, related by our shared heritage, unified in that identity.
Have ever stood on this earth and been overcome by the majesty and beauty of the scene before you? Have you marvelled at the delicate dew splattered petals of a peachy rose standing erect and firm amongst its prickly armoured stems? Have you ever seen the stars illuminating the black dark velvet skies and traced the shafts of dragon fire comets as they race across the heavens? Have you, at some dark time in your life, looked back to a happier place, a happier moment, a chink of light amongst the shadows and pain? Have you remembered a sight, a sound, a smell, a touch and it has caused you to ache and yearn to see, to hear, to smell, to feel that experience again and again? Have you wanted to be back at a place, a special, beautiful place where you find peace and contentment rather than what you are feeling at that moment? Have you, tucked away in the deepest recesses of your inner being, the desire and urge to visit a certain place, a place where you just know you just have to be?
If you have experienced any of these things, then this is a little of what Hiraeth is..
And today, I would like to wish you all, wherever you are, and whatever nationalility you are, a very happy St David’s Day.
Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus I chi.
